First detection of <i>Crenosoma vulpis</i> in Red Foxes <i>Vulpes vulpes</i> in Western Poland

<i>Crenosoma vulpis</i> is a nematode from the superfamily Metastrongylidea, which parasitizes the respiratory tracts of carnivores, primarily red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>), and occasionally domestic dogs (<i>Canis familiaris</i>). This study aimed to assess the presence of <i>C. vulpis</i> in red foxes in western Poland, an area where its occurrence had not been previously documented. We examined lung tissue from 47 red foxes obtained during the regular hunting season (2017 - 2018) using the Baermann method to detect the presence of nematode larvae. Larvae, identified based on morphology as <i>C. vulpis</i>, were found in 12.8 % of the foxes (6/47; 95 % CL = 4.8 - 25.7 %). This is the first confirmed report of <i>Crenosoma vulpis</i> in red foxes in Poland, highlighting the potential need for further epidemiological studies on its distribution and impact on both wildlife and domestic animals.